Piper Creek Restoration Agriculture Project

(Click the image to visit the project Facebook page with lots of pictures and video!)

Location: east side of 40th Ave - south Red Deer, past the landfill, before the Clearview Industrial Park (along Piper Creek)

Parcel Description: SW34-37-27W4

52.216996, -113.790065 (map coordinates)

ReThink Red Deer and supporting organizations have secured funds from Environment Canada's Environmental Damages fund (EDF) to restore a roughly 25-acre section of Piper Creek immediately south of the City of Red Deer Landfill. Over the course of five years, the “Piper Creek Restoration Agriculture Project” will repair and improve the historical impacts on an important riparian (land next to water) and agricultural area in the Red Deer River watershed by regenerating and enhancing Red Deerians' understanding of, and relationship with, the natural world.

(initial video on the project from 2014 courtesy of SHAW Communications)

(National Year of the Garden video on project success from 2022 courtesy of The City of Red Deer)

“This project approaches the restoration of an important ecology and historical site in an integrated way. The neighbouring land uses - landfill and industrial park - have direct impact on the ecosystem health of the project site and we can work together to manage these uses in a sustainable way.”, says Kathy Parsons, Past President of ReThink Red Deer.

Project partner Cows and Fish (Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society) will complete three “Riparian Health Inventories” (RHI) over the course of the five-year project to collect comprehensive information about the structure and function of the vegetation, soil, and hydrology within the project area.

According to Cows & Fish Range and Riparian Specialist, Kathryn Hull, “By repeating the riparian health inventory in years three and five we will have a means to monitor the level of impact of the restoration efforts along Piper Creek.” This includes photographic monitoring to capture visual changes to riparian parameters such as reduced invasive weed cover and improved native tree and shrub cover. Comprehensive pre- and post-monitoring is a key part of understanding the effectiveness of proposed restoration and riparian management plans.

Among the project partners are The Red Deer River Watershed Alliance, The Red Deer River Naturalists, and Trout Unlimited. Supporting organizations include The Waskasoo Environmental Education Society, Alberta Food Matters, the Canadian Association for Rainwater Management - Prairie Chapter, Red Deer County, and The City of Red Deer as landowner holding observer status.

Since confirming EDF funding in 2014 we have accomplished the following:

2015

Completed the first of three Riparian Health Inventories with Cows & Fish (AB Riparian Habitat Management Society) to assess the health of the creek and riparian areas
Delivered workshops and field days to build skills and repair ecological function at the project site
Hosted Steering Committee meetings, site tours and delivered presentations to inform project partners and community members of the project

2016

Assessed creek crossing removal strategies and site-wide weed control opportunities with goats and brushcutters with help from Olds College Land and Water Resources Program students
Delivered workshops and field days to build skills and repair ecological function at the project site including water quality and soil testing and live staking of woody plant species
Hosted Steering Committee meetings, site tours and delivered presentations to inform project partners and community members of the project

2017

Planted the 15,000 sq.ft Canada 150 Food Forest & Pollinator Garden with support from Heritage Canada, Tree Canada, and Peavey Mart
Removed the non-conforming creek crossing with support from Trout Unlimited Canada and Cows & Fish
Completed the second of three Riparian Health Inventories with Cows & Fish (AB Riparian Habitat Management Society) to assess the health of the creek and riparian areas
Delivered workshops and field days to build skills and repair ecological function at the project site including water quality and soil testing and live staking of woody plant species with help from Olds College Land and Water Resources Program students
Hosted goats at the site over multiple days and occasions for invasive and noxious weed management
Salvaged barn wood siding from the historic barn on site (removed by the City of Red Deer mid-2017 for safety reasons)
Hosted Steering Committee meetings, site tours and delivered presentations to inform project partners and community members of the project

2018

Delivered workshops and field days to build skills and repair ecological function at the project site including water quality testing and live staking of woody plant species with support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation
Hosted goats at the site over multiple days and occasions for invasive and noxious weed management
Hosted Steering Committee meetings, site tours and delivered presentations to inform project partners and community members of the project

2019

Constructed a brand new timber frame barn to harvest rainwater for community gardeners and serve as the world's largest insect hotel in support of The City of Red Deer's Pollinator Parks initiative, with capital support from the Co-Op Community Spaces, The Government of Alberta (CFEP), and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation
Delivered workshops and field days to build skills and repair ecological function at the project site including planting native pollinator plant species, cold-hardy fruit trees, and preparation of an "eco-buffer" with initial planting of two evergreen trees with support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation and Alberta Environment and Parks
Hosted goats at the site over multiple days and occasions for invasive and noxious weed management
Completed the third of three Riparian Health Inventories with Cows & Fish (AB Riparian Habitat Management Society) to assess the health of the creek and riparian areas
Hosted Steering Committee meetings, site tours and delivered presentations to inform project partners and community members of the project

2020

Seasonal site maintenance and repair (project delayed due to Covid pandemic restrictions)
Installation and planting of raised garden beds on the south side of the barn
Additional riparian plantings along Piper Creek

2021

Active Rainwater Harvesting System installation
Passive Rainwater System installation (rain garden)
Additional riparian plantings along Piper Creek
Seasonal site maintenance and repair (project delayed due to Covid pandemic restrictions)

Project Partners and Supporting Organizations

Red Deer River Naturalists

Trout Unlimited Canada

Red Deer River Watershed Alliance

The City of Red Deer

The Government of Alberta - Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Heritage Canada

Community Foundations of Canada - Healthy Communities Initiative

UN Association in Canada - Green Corps

Tree Canada - Edible Tree Program

Alberta Conservation Association